Author: Donnelly, Christin

Roselind Velez Amaker, HDFS Alumni Spotlight – October 2025

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Headshot, Roselind Amaker

Roselind is a passionate and dedicated first-generation academic who is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Couples and Family Therapy. As a proud UConn alum, she earned her HDFS BA, with a minor in Women’s Studies, in 2015. She later obtained her Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy from Central Connecticut State University in 2020.

With over 18 years of experience in the mental health field, including seven years as a mental health Sergeant in the U.S. Army, Roselind has committed her career to supporting and empowering individuals and families. Her research focuses on the reintegration of military service members into their families and communities, and she is a passionate advocate for racial equity and cultural inclusion.

As a skilled bilingual therapist, Roselind excels at connecting with individuals from diverse backgrounds across all stages of life. She currently works in the Young Adult Services program at the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services while also managing her private practice, Blooming Wellness & Therapeutic Services, LLC. Roselind’s work reflects her unwavering commitment to healing, equity, and community impact.

Lydia Nyarko, HDFS Graduate Student Spotlight, October 2025

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Headshot, Lydia Nyarko

Lydia O Nyarko is a first-year HDFS master’s student working with Dr. Jolaade Kalinowski. Lydia earned her UConn BA in Global Health and Society with a minor in HDFS. As an undergraduate student, she explored health disparities and health equity. She became passionate about child health and community influences on child development. Lydia received a scholarship from the Hurley Gurley Foundation that funded her passion project titled Amplifying the voices of the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) community in Ghana.

As a graduate student, Lydia works with Dr. Kalinowski as a research assistant on her Stress Lab Project. Currently, Lydia is exploring mental health-seeking behaviors among women of color and young adults. She plans on applying multidisciplinary frameworks to inform mental health interventions, particularly for immigrant families. After completing her master’s, Lydia hopes to pursue a PhD in HDFS.

Lydia grew up in Ghana before moving to the US. While an undergraduate student, she studied abroad three times. Her longterm goal is to visit all the countries in the world. She enjoys vlogging her life.